I Do Not Own InuYasha


Ikigai

いきがい

"A reason for being"

'A reason to get up in the morning'

To enjoy the meaning of life - passion, purpose, something one lives for


III: 3


Year 1578...

Edo, Japan...

Sesshōmaru had arrived just in time for the human festival that his mate was born on, he had returned from Haeinsa in Joseon for this event. The trip had been rather tiring which was why he was here now. He had been reading the Goryeo Tripiṭaka, he had been looking for leads on the curse from Magatsuhi, he remembered when Rin had fought him about going to Haeinsa when the Mongol Invasion was in full swing, he remembered how adamant she had been about going. Now, having read over all the scripts he could there, he understood what it was about his mate seeking wisdom. There were lots of other temples he could go to, to find information about marks like these, yōkai, kami, human alike, but there had been nothing on his particular curse mark.

Now he was back in Edo, just in time Tanabata, he even had a proper gift for this Rin to celebrate her thirteenth birthday. It was a big deal according to the humans. Sesshōmaru actually knew the spirits this festival was created for and found it utterly ridiculous; but it was one of Rin's favored festivals, not for her birth, but for the wishes and festivities. And he would endure it for her.

Though he wasn't pleased with the lack of success in his hunt for information. Which was maddening enough that a break was needed. This winter he was contemplating taking his mate to Ming, he had a few things to look up with the gods there, and Rin would enjoy Ming.

Sesshōmaru walked into Edo and saw Rin laughing as she walked in step with the kitsune who had adopted her as a littermate.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!" she shouted in glee as she ran towards him with a beaming smile.

It was days like this that he was happy Rin had been returned to him by his mother. He softened as people parted, bowing to him as she ran enthusiastically for him. It had been five years since the fall of Naraku. In those five years Sesshōmaru had reluctantly divided Rin's time between him and the humans, he had also fully resumed his role of Inu no Tashio, and managing the four realms in his control, there'd also been the alliances. He was a bit irked with the yōkai coming to Rin when they couldn't reach him, he had heard of her run in with Kōga which had had his mate in a hysterical mess, Jaken had stayed with her the entire summer last year because of Kōga.

Rin slammed into his waist, her arms firmly wrapped around him as she smiled and pulled back a little.

"I'm so happy you're back!" she giggled delightedly.

"Rin," he greeted as he produced her gift.

"Thank you, my lord!" she gasped as she accepted it. "Are you staying for the festival?" she demanded excitedly.

"Hai," he replied. Rin was bouncing on her heels, he could see the village setting up the festival which had him gesturing for her to lead the way. She giggled as she walked forward and started filling him in on all that had happened in the months, he had left her. He was surprised that she could find so much to inform him about her life. Rin seemed to always been amused or having entertainment which was good, he preferred her living life than weeping about being left behind.

He paused as they neared the old miko's home and he saw his brother's mate standing there frowning as he approached. In the two years since Higurashi Kagome had returned he had found it more and more difficult to find time with Rin during the summers. Kagome had also, in this past year, determinedly taken over managing Rin's life, which was an annoyance for him and his mother.

"Rin, Kaede needs your help, with Sango," she said.

"But…" Rin started and gestured to him.

"Now Rin," Kagome ordered sharply which had her sighing.

"Hai, Kagome-onee-san," she sighed dejectedly before he accepted her gift back, slipping the parcel back into his sleeve. She stalked off to go find Kaede and he looked balefully at Kagome who put down her large basket.

"What do you think you're doing Sesshōmaru-sama!?" Kagome demanded.

He didn't respond, he noted that the miko had his brother's mark, bright red on the nape of her neck, her hair had been pulled up because of the heat, exposing the mark.

"You shouldn't be here!" she stated.

"Why should I not be?" he asked levelly.

"She's needs space," Kagome stated firmly. He arched a brow at this, and frowned a little. Two years ago when the miko had returned she hadn't cared about his relationship with Rin, but after Rin's first moon bleed the miko's attitude had changed drastically. It wasn't like he was going to jump her after her first cycle! She was still pup, she was growing, she would continue growing, and if he had it his way she would stay healthy and strong and when she was mature she would be able to make the decision he would place before her and understand the gravity of what was being asked of her.

"Sesshōmaru-sama, she needs to grow up, and she can't do that with you hovering over her like a protective father!" Kagome stated.

His brows rose at being equated Rin's father.

Sesshōmaru was many times over able to be Rin's ancestor, not her father, if they were to look at age. And never once had he indulged his mate like she was his daughter, he had looked after her and seen to her welfare but he had never viewed her as his pup.

"She needs to be free to be interested in her own age group, you are not the kindest creature and kami only knows why she worships you like a kami, but it isn't right," Kagome said firmly.

"I am here for Rin, it is the day of her birth," he shrugged and left the miko.

Sesshōmaru's eyes narrowed when he saw the older human boy who had been besotted with Rin during their travels talking to her, and Rin was playing with two of the taijiya's pups. He could smell the boy's attraction to his mate which had him itching to tear the boy apart.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!" Rin smiled as she hoisted up the pup at her feet onto her hip and trotted over to him.

"Rin," he acknowledged.

"This is Ken, he's Sango and Miroku's youngest!" she smiled. "This is Sesshōmaru-sama! Can you say hello to Sesshōmaru-sama!?" she asked the drooling pup. Sesshōmaru assessed the pup carefully, which had the pup giggling and reaching for him, he stepped back; he had learned the hard way human pups this young were extremely sticky.

"Go get Kohaku-oji-san!" she giggled as she released the toddling pup in the boy's direction. Sesshōmaru looked at her then at the litter behind her before he tilted his head in inquiry as to what the old miko had needed her for.

"Kaede just needed an extra set of hands," Rin said as she motioned for them to walk, he felt Kagome glaring at him as he walked with Rin.

"Are you well, Rin?" he asked as they walked, she was in step with him on his left.

"Hai," she nodded. "I'm eager to go home though," she admitted and he nodded. He understood what she considered home though he had never forced her to claim him and his pack as such.

"What about you, my lord?" she asked.

"I am well," he lied, the curse mark was burning.

"That's good, Rōyakan was looking for you," she said.

"Did he…?" he started.

"No, it was startling when he found me, but he did not harm me," she admitted.

Sesshōmaru inclined his head in understanding. She would never like wolves, he predicted.

"How was your travels?" she asked.

"Well," he replied and handed her the parcel she had handed back.

"Kagome says I shouldn't be accepting your gifts anymore," Rin informed him as she eagerly snatched the gift into her hands and skipped a head to a trunk so she could open it.

"Has she informed you as to why?" he asked.

"Hai, she says I am of courting age," she replied.

"Hn," he grunted; if anyone wanted to bed a child like Rin they were disgusting and he would skewer them for looking at her. The boy he could not kill for they were relatively the same age, but the men who would 'court' her would be her father's age and he would not permit that.

"I don't want to be courted," she said as she gingerly untied the parcel.

"You will not be courted then," he shrugged.

"Really!?" she asked eagerly.

"Hai, you are a member of the Shikoku InuYōkai Pack, whomever should ask for you will have to ask me and I will simply turn them away until you change your mind," he said.

"Arigato!" she beamed.

He nodded. He would court her when she was ready, for now he would let her grow and learn and find herself.

He watched as she carefully pulled apart the parcel and the gift was revealed.

"It's so beautiful!" she gasped as she held up the kitsune mask he had bought her. She giggled in delight as she slipped it on her face. It covered half her face, the fox was white with red, gold and purple markings, there were a few beads dangling colorfully. He had thought it a gift she would appreciate. "How do I look?"

"Like a proper wild fox," he said as he reached out and fixed her hair a bit. She laughed in delight and ran for the river to see. He collected up the wrappings to be discarded later. He arrived at the river as she was examining the mask before she turned to him, smiling brilliantly.

"Are you staying for the festival, my lord?" she asked as she darted up to him again.

"Hai," he replied.

"Oh! Then you have to try Minako's honey candies!" she declared.

"Oh?" he lifted a brow. His mate was well aware of his sweet tooth, as he frequently stole her sweets. He was also very fond of honey candies in particular, they were a secret favorite, probably only rivaled a few wild berries. Rin was overly fond of peaches and berries, but also honey.

"I'll sneak you a few!" she whispered conspiratorially.

He smirked as he hid his hands in his sleeves. "I would like that, Rin."


It was the first time in the five years since inheriting his lands that he was reluctantly travelling his lands, and that had brought him to Edo. Which was his only truly prosperous holding. The daimyō stared around at the festivities in well disguised disgust.

He was Oshiro Nori.

He looked around Edo, it was home to the last Yōkai Taijiya, the most powerful miko and monk, and a hanyō, he was well appraised of the town. Riding his horse he wondered what the festivities were for until he saw her…

She was small, slight, young, there was a bright smile on her face, a mask on her head, her black hair flowed around her and she looked like a kami embodied.

"Rin!" a voice called as his horse was heading for her, she just noticed them when she was about to be hit by one of the horses when a flash of silver appeared and the horse reared screaming. There was a slash of a whip which had the horse backing up and Nori found himself staring at a tall, silver man. The man's face was strangely marked, and his amber eyes were burning, the fur and the armor spoke yōkai though.

"You dare to be in my way!?" he shouted as he got the horse under control. The girl was pressed into the yōkai's hip staring at him with startled brown eyes.

"You should pay attention," the man snapped.

"I am the daimyō of these lands!" he shouted.

"Let's just go!" the girl said. "They're only human!" she hissed at the yōkai.

The yōkai growled, his eyes never leaving Nori.

"Oi!" another figure appeared, red and white, leaping from the trees. "Leave him be, Sesshōmaru!"

"You live because of her," the yōkai stated before he motioned for the girl to go and he followed.


Rin took her lord's hand as they walked, she had only done this as a child but she led him through the village as the booths started opening and sealing their goods.

"Ooo! Look at the sparklers!" she giggled as a couple of the children ran by with them. There would be fireworks and dancing and wishes made tonight! It would be fun, for a change the weather was good, the summer had thus far been brutal in Edo, with serious storms raging down on them.

"Rin," Sesshōmaru pulled his hand free and handed her a small pouch, she stared at it with reverence as she looked at the gold coins inside. "Procure what you desire," he said very indifferently.

"You're not going to find the baka and kill him when I turn my back, are you?" she asked him carefully. Sesshōmaru always took her safety seriously and she knew he had killed humans for merely being within the radius he set for their camp.

"Do you wish me to kill him?" he asked her dryly.

"No! No I don't!" she said quickly.

"Then he lives, for now," he replied.

"Arigato!" she whispered before they resumed walking. She gasped when he pushed her mask over her face and glared up at him, he merely feigned innocence which had her laughing again as they walked.

"Rin!" a voice shouted and she saw Junpei running for her and Sesshōmaru, which had her laughing as she caught the boy.

"Junpei!"

"Sesshu-sama is back!" the six year old declared enthusiastically.

"Hai, he is!" she giggled.

"I made this for you!" he said and she smiled as the child produced a crude piece of calligraphy then.

"Is this my name!?" she asked enthusiastically.

"Hai, Haha-ue said it's your day of birth," he said solemnly.

"Arigato Junpei," she smiled at the child as he beamed at her. "We'll continue sparing tomorrow!"

"Bye!" the boy shouted as he ran off to play with the other village children. Rin smiled at her gift.

"I will hold that," Sesshōmaru said plucking it from her fingers and folding it neatly before slipping it into his sleeve again.

"Arigato," she smiled.

He nodded silently and she chuckled as she went to a stall to get them some of those honey candies, she made sure to get plenty so they could enjoy them when the bonefire happened. Sesshōmaru wouldn't be there at the bonfire but she had no doubt he would be there watching, she would make her wish and probably spend the night staring at Amanogawa while she enticed her lord to share stories of his travels. Her lord had lived a vast lifetime and he did have many stories to share, it was always enlightening to learn from him.

"Rin!" she looked up when her adopted littermate appeared and smiled at Shippō.

"Hey!"

"Hey! Nice mask!"

"Sesshōmaru-sama gave it to me as a gift for my birth!" she said as she pulled the beads to make the brows move which had Shippō laughing.

"He recognizes you as a kitsune finally!?" he asked gleefully.

"No, this is for the tanuki incident," she chuckled. Her lord and her lord's mother had called her a kitsune for the trouble she seemed to create.

"I like it!" Shippō chuckled tugging on one of the beads gently. "But I'm here to tell you that the guy who nearly ran you over is the local daimyō, InuYasha thinks you should make yourself scarce or stick close to Sesshōmaru-sama, apparently this Oshiro-sama is upset about the run in earlier."

"Hai, I will," she promised.

"Oh, here's some cherries! I traded the acorns for these," he grinned.

"Wow!" she gasped staring at the massive cherries which Shippō split between them.

"Have fun!" he said giving her a sloppy salute as he went off on his merry way. She giggled in delight, between the cherries and the candies and the festival tonight was shaping up to be an excellent night!

Skipping back to Sesshōmaru-sama who was speaking lowly with InuYasha she smiled at them both.

"Rin," Sesshōmaru looked down at her.

"We'll talk more about this later," InuYasha said firmly.

"No, we won't," Sesshōmaru snapped as InuYasha ruffled her hair and darted off to find his mate no doubt.

"What was that about, my lord?" she asked.

"It is of no consequence," he dismissed as he looked her over.

"You should wear the mask, my lord," she said absently.

"It is your gift."

"Hai, but it'll hide your markings from that daimyo," she said. She also wanted to see him have a little fun.

"I do not need to hide from a human, Rin," he chided her gently as he snuck a cherry from her fingers and popped it into his mouth as they walked.

"But what if…!" she started.

"I am not my father," he stated firmly. "Besides, the mask looks far better on you than I," he mused.

She giggled. "Very well, my lord! We should go see the activities they have!" she decided.

She could almost swear she saw him cringe, but he nodded as they walked back into the festivities of the festival.